Why schizophrenia is increasing amongst youth?

Recently, an adolescent men suffering from schizophrenia attacked his father in Mumbai. His father is taking treatment at Rajawadi hospital. While his sister revealed that he is suffering from schizophrenia

Rohit Muzumdar, (name changed), a Mumbai resident was short tempered and often lost his cool. Owing to which, he was taken to the doctor by his family. That was the time when the doctors diagnosed him with schizophrenia. Meanwhile, on Thursday, Rohit suddenly attacked his father.

Speaking to My Medical Mantra, Dr Vidya Thakur, Medical Superintendent of Rajawadi hospital said, “Patients with schizophrenia have no control over their own mind. They can attack anyone. They fail to recognise their behaviour. They can become violent, if things don’t go according to them. So during that time, they can attack a family member or their near and dear ones.”

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that usually appears in late adolescence or early adulthood. Characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and other cognitive difficulties, schizophrenia can often be a lifelong struggle.

Dr Priyanka Mahajan, a psychiatrist at Masina hospital said, “We see a lot of patients with schizophrenia. In the country, from every 100 people, 1 suffers from the same. Parents fail to understand, as the disease is not easily diagnosed. Parents take their children to doctors, when they turn violent. About 40 per cent of patients coming to the hospital are affected with this disease.”

Talking about schizophrenia, Dr Shubhangi Parakar, head of KEM hospital’s Department of Psychiatry said, “There is a change in the behaviour of children, due to which there is increase in the number of patients suffering from schizophrenia/ Children feel lonely and their behaviour changes. They also get auditory hallucinations. Patients can be treated with proper medications.”